’Duke, what are you talking of?  You have got out of philosophy into metaphysics,’ said Prim.

‘She is the philosopher of the family,’ said Rollo, by way of explanation to Hazel.  ’But she has made a mistake.  As she confesses she does make them, I may remark that.’

‘Why, you are talking of perceiving what does not exist!’ cried Prim.

’Is that what you call metaphysics?  I should call it nonsense.’

‘I never supposed you were talking nonsense, Duke.’

‘No,’ said Duke.  ’That would be a mistake.  No, I was speaking, Prim, of the detection, by no visible or intelligible means, of what we are not aware has existence.’

‘By no intelligible means,’ said Prim.  ’You mean, knowing a person is coming, that you have not heard is coming—­and such things?’

’And knowing a person is near, who you had thought was very far off.’

‘Yes,’ said Prim thoughtfully; ‘I know.  It is very curious.’

‘Witches, for instance?’ said Hazel, with perfect gravity.

‘No,’ said Prim earnestly, ’I don’t mean out-of-the-way people at all; though it is something “uncanny”—­as it seems;—­queer; I have heard of instances.’

‘I have felt them,’ said Rollo.

Primrose went into a brown study over the question.

‘But do you think,’ Rollo went on gravely addressing Wych Hazel, ’that this sort of mental action can take place except where there are strong sympathetic—­or other—­relations between the parties?’

’So that the magnet finds out the iron, when it would pass by the lead?—­is that what you mean?’

A significant, quick, keen look; and then Rollo said, very gravely,

’But it strikes me we have got the thing reversed.  Is it not rather the iron that finds the magnet?’

‘The magnet must be conscious too,’ said Hazel.  ’And I think it moves—­where the iron is in sufficient quantity.’

‘It would be a poor rule that wouldn’t work both ways,’ said Rollo, with dry simplicity.

‘What are you talking about?’ said Primrose.  ’Do give Hazel some more raspberries.  I am inclined to think this, Duke—­’

‘Well?’

’I am inclined to think that in those cases you have been speaking of, there is testimony of the person’s presence, only it is in some such little slight things as were insufficient to draw attention to themselves, and only, by natural association of ideas, suggested the person.’

‘What do you think, Miss Hazel?’

But she shook her head.

’If you go off to people—­I should say, sometimes, that could not be.’

‘So should I,’ said Rollo.

‘Why?’ said Primrose.

’I cannot find in my consciousness, or memory, any corroboration of your theory.’

‘I think I can in mine.  Sometimes, at least.’

‘Those are not my times,’ said Rollo.

‘And I don’t know but you are right, too,’ said Primrose, musing.  ’I remember, that day you were coming home, I had not the least reason to think so, and yet you were in my mind all day.’